In downtown LA, not far from the Arts District, stands the landmark Bradbury Building. Made famous by the noir classic, Blade Runner, it’s a must see for movie fans as well as architecture lovers.

So reads the text that greets you upon entry into the building, below… Enjoy!

“Built in 1893, the Bradbury Building is a local historic landmark whose architectural purity had been threatened by a sense of safety code modifications at the time of the Blade Runner shoot; in fact, the structure had fallen into a serious state of disrepair (however it was completely renovated in the early 1990s).

Commissioned by millionaire Lewis Bradbury, it was designed by George Wyman (who had been inspired by Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward, an early utopia novel set in the year 2000 and featuring descriptions of numerous futuristic commercial buildings.) Editor’s note:Take a look at Julius Shulman’s black and white photograph of the Bradbury Building from its upper levels. Unfortunately, the general public isn’t allowed up there. It is 3/4 way down this post:Shulman Inspired, California Desired

Additionally Ridley Scott paid particular attention during interior filming to the centre court’s glass-block roof, known to some on the crew as “Sebastian’s atrium.”

The interior of the Bradbury Building was then “dirtied down” by adding various amounts of trash, smoke, revolving xenon spotlights, dripping water, and mannequins. A false wall and door were also erected before one of Bradbury’s offices to stand in for the entrance to Sebastian’s apartment.”*

(As reads the sign in the Bradbury Building. The text is excerpted from Future Noir, The Making of Blade Runner by Paul M. Sammon).

William Shakespeare’s birthday is traditionally celebrated today, 23rd April; he was born in the year 1564.*

His actual date of birth cannot be substantiated as back then, births were not formally registered and Birth Certificates were not produced. As it was customary for Elizabethan parents to baptise their children three days after their birth – there is record of Shakespeare’s baptism, dated 26th, at the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Stratford, England – his birthday has been guessed.

Incidentally, Shakespeare died on this very date – on 23rd April, 1616.

Sunset over Venice Beach

There was a star danced, and under that I was born~ Much Ado About Nothing

I am moving in a new direction with my career; a foray into the bountiful world of travel writing and travel photography. My love for media: magazines, books, the Internet, and (travel) shows is unwavering – as well as indulging in them, I hope to be writing for them soon.

I’m signed up with Matador Network so over the next couple of months I’ll be doing a whole lot of learning, reading, writing, and snapping. One of the requirements was to create a blog for coursework submissions; if you’d like to critically comment on my words, here’s your chance!

I’ll continue blogging from here with updates; it’s where the ‘push’ happened after all.

I cannot wait for the journey ahead.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did… so throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.~ Mark Twain

The Golden Globes kick off awards season. Watching them from New York, I will inevitably wax nostalgic about Los Angeles, my former hometown, as the glorious sunshine lights up the movie stars on the red carpet.

I wanted to honour the Golden Globes from New York, so by a (large) stretch of the imagination, I came up with a topic for this post: The Bronze Statuettes of the 14th Street– 8th Avenue Subway. A few weeks back, I spotted these little figurines and have wanted to write about them ever since. In light of the Golden Globes award show, I now have the perfect excuse.

Rolling dice and playing cards

Pumped!

Waiting, with the rest of us

A resident rat

If you’re not familiar with these squat bronze sculptures, they are part of Tom Otterness’ “Life Underground” series commissioned by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and Arts for Transit. They dot the 14th Street – 8th Avenue subway — around the main concourse and its A, C, E and L stops. You’ll come across a cartoon-like top-hatted figurine while descending the stairway to the platform below, only to find yourself greeted by a large caricature fashioned into a phone box..

Crocodile’s dinner

“Life Underground” took ten years to create, and includes over 100 cast bronze works. They are so interesting to look at while waiting for the subway.

Caught sneaking under

Money Bags

Enjoy these Teletubby-like works. I’m off to have a glass of wine and watch the Golden Globes!

Trunking Around

Tom Otterness’ public works feature in many parts of New York and North America; with a few works on view in South Korea, the Netherlands and Germany. More info: Tom Otterness >> Public Art.